Most of us ‘avoid disabled people’

More than two-thirds of Scots avoid disabled people because they do not know how to act around them, according to a Scottish study.

The survey, conducted by BT to mark its “Ready, Willing and Disabled” event, found reasons for such avoidance included disabled people being seen as a burden on society and ill-feeling around the perceived extra support given to disabled people.

Brendan Dick, BT Scotland director, said: “It’s very sad that in the 21st century, so many people in Scotland still fail to see the potential behind the disability. In order to give some people a fair chance you sometimes need to treat them differently.”